Polishing device

ABSTRACT

A polishing device in which a generally cylindrical molded member encapsulates an elongated drive shaft to form a solid, generally cylindrical mass for supporting a polishing cloth.

United States Patent 1 Horeni 3,725,9 9 1 Apr. 10, 1973 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS POLISHING DEVICE [76] Inventor:

Edward R. Horeni, 2433 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Ill.

Aug. 10, 1971 51/298 x Wis 230.19 ...15/230.1s

mm S e e mom M9 777 536 999 111 WWW 3,252,775 5/1966Tocci-Guilbert.................. 2,805,529 2,093,006 3,340,652

[22] Filed:

21 Appl. No.: 170,461

Primary Examinefi-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Lettvin and Gerstman ABSTRACTA polishing device in which a generally cylindrical molded memberencapsulates an elongated drive shaft [58] Field of Search 376, 380,298; 32/59, 58 to form a solid, generally cylindrical mass forsupporting a polishing cloth.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures g. m a.

PATENH-inAPRmms 3,725,969

INVENTOR EDWARD R. HORE/V/ ATTORNEYS POLISHING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Conventional hand-held electrical polishing apparatuscomprises a polishing cloth or the like fastened to the top surface of adisc which rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the disc andcentrally located with respect thereto. Such apparatus producesnoticeable swirls, which are generally detrimental to the attractive,high-gloss finish desired.

In my copending application Ser. No. 43,520, filed June 4, 1970, now US.Pat. No. 3,665,546, I disclosed an electrical polishing device that hasa polishing surface which extends parallel to the axis of a rotatablepolishing cylinder, and which avoids producing the swirls which areproduced by prior art polishing apparatus. I have discovered an improvedconstruction of a polishing cylinder which is relatively simple inconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture and comprises relatively fewcomponents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the presentinvention, there is provided an electric polishing device comprising anelongated drive shaft having retaining means, such as protuberancesextending therefrom or apertures extending therethrough. A generallycylindrical molded member formed from moldable, hardenable materialencapsulates the shaft and its holding means, and forms a solid,generally cylindrical mass for supporting a polishing cloth.

In the illustrative embodiment, the shaft is formed of metal and thereare metal protuberances which extend radially and orthogonally from theshaft. The moldable, hardenable material comprises a spongifoammaterial,

such as polyurethane, having density between 1.5

pounds per cubic foot and 8 pounds per cubic foot.

In one embodiment of the invention, the polishing device is produced byinserting a shaft into a generally cylindrical mold cavity having afixed internal dimension. the shaft is maintained in place to extendcoaxially with the mold cavity. There is introduced into the cavity aflowable material which hardens to encapsulate the shaft and to fill thecavity. After hardening, a unitary polishing device is removed from thecavity comprising the shaft and the hardened material.

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in thefollowing description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the polishing device 10shown therein comprises an axial shaft 12 fastened by suitable means toa shaft 14 having a greater diameter and car rying a number of radiallyand orthogonally extending projections or protuberances l6, equallyspaced along shaft 14. Projections 16 are used to hold a moldedcylindrical member in place, and other holding means, such as aperturesextending through the shaft or knurled portions of the shaft, may beutilized if desired. A generally cylindrical molded member 18 having anangled distal end 20 surround s shaft 14 with the shafts 12, 14 and thegenerally cylindrical member I8 being coaxial. As mentioned above,projections 16 aid in retaining the molded material'18 in itsrelationship with the shaft 14. The molded member 18 is covered with alar'nbs wool cover 22 which is tied at 24 to shaft 14.

FIG. 2 shows, diagrammatically, the molding system for the device.Shafts 12 and 14 and associated projections 16 are placed in a moldcavity 25 and the molding material is then introduced to the cavity withheat and pressure applied in the conventional manner to produce moldedmember 18. The shafts are maintained coaxially with the mold cavity bymeans of a top plate 26 which has a central opening 28 to encircle shaft14 with the shaft being temporarily "fastened to top plate 26 and withmeans (not shown) being provided for holding the distal end of the shaftin place in the cavity.

Molded member 18 is formed. of a relatively soft, elastic material, suchas low density polyurethane spongifoam material. As a specific example,although no limitation is intended, polyurethane having a densitybetween about 1.5 pounds per cubic foot and about 8 pounds per cubicfoot is suitable. A preferable range of density is from about 3 to about6 pounds per cubic foot. It is to be understood, however, that othersubstances, such as other spongifoam plastic and rubber, could be used.Additionally, steel wire strands could be placed about the projections16 before the molding operation in order to reinforce the moldedsubstance.

Although shaft l2could be connected to any electrical motor, it ispreferred that the molded unit compris' ing member 18 and its associatedshafts l2 and 14 be sold as an accessory for electric drills, with thelambs wool cover 22 being removable and sold separately. It is preferredthat the diameter of the molded member be between about four and fiveinches and, in this manner, satisfactory-service will be obtained withthe use of soft molded material such as described above. Polishingaction can thereby be obtained without the production of any noticeableswirls.

Summarizing, in the production of the polishingdevice illustrated inFIG. 1, as a specific example, a 7

steel shaft l2'fastened to larger steel shaft 14 having projections 16extending therefrom, is inserted is cavity 25 and is maintained in axialalignment therewith by suitable means. The components of a selected foamsystem are mixed, rendered homogeneous, and poured into the cavity andallowed to rise to fill the cavity. After the product has filled thecavity and cooled, there is provided an encapsulated shaft withassociated projections which are removed from the mold in the form of apolishing member. A lambs wool cover 22 which conforms in shape to thepolishing member is tied to shaft 14 as illustrated in FIG. 1, and theshaft 12 is attached to a suitable electric motor for polishingpurposes.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention "has been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various modifications andsubstitutions may be' made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the novel spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory for an electric drill, which comprises: a first shafthaving a cross-sectional dimension suitable for connection of said firstshaft to the chuck of the electric drill; a second shaft coaxial withsaid first shaft and connected thereto, said second shaft having agreater cross-sectional dimension than said first shaft; a plurality ofmetal protuberances extending radially and

1. An accessory for an electric drill, which comprises: a first shafthaving a cross-sectional dimension suitable for connection of said firstshaft to the chuck of the electric drill; a second shaft coaxial withsaid first shaft and connected thereto, said second shaft having agreater cross-sectional dimension than said first shaft; a plurality ofmetal protuberances extending radially and orthogonally from said secondshaft; a generally cylindrical member formed of polyurethane and havinga density between 1.5 pounds per cubic foot and 8 pounds per cubic footand molded in situ about said second shaft, said cylindrical memberhaving an angled distal end aNd being adapted to support a lamb''s woolcover for polishing; said cylindrical member having a diameter betweenabout four and about five inches, whereby polishing action may beobtained without the production of noticeable swirls.